Packaging device



J. H. BONINI PACKAGING DEVICE Filed Aug. 28, 1951 INVENTOR.

JOHN H. 50mm BY Patented May 18, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEPACKAGING DEVICE John H. Bonini, Appleton, Wis., assignor to MarathonCorporation, Rothschild, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin ApplicationAugust 28, 1951, Serial No. 243,930 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-87) Thisinvention relates to a packaging device and more particularly to apaperboard collapsible retainer for individual articles.

With increasing demand for pre-packaged foods brought about by theself-service method of selling, there is a greater need for semi-rigiddevices for improving the packages. It is frequently the practice forthe store keeper to simply take an article of food and wrap it in aflexible transparent wrapper, such as cellophane. Such a package haslittle eye appeal. Furthermore, where a number of individual articlesare so packaged, the package is frequently loose, thus uncomfortable tohandle, and when the articles are compressible, such as sausages orbread slices, the articles are frequently pressed together and deformedin handling. Various packaging devices, such as paperboard holders orfoundation pieces, for example, bun collars, meat boards, and the like,have been provided to improve the prepackaged article where the cost ofa carton is not warranted. These devices are formed from blanks and whenset up are semi-rigid so as to retain the article or articles inposition for overwrapping.

It is the object of this invention to provide a novel semi-rigidpackaging device for use in packaging individual articles in twoseparate layers which may be readily formed from a flat blank and whenformed be adapted to hold the articles snugly in place. It is a furtherobject to provide a paperboard blank suitably cut and scored to permitits being formed into such a retainer. Other objects and advantages willbe apparent from the following description and appended drawings of apreferred paperboard embodiment of my packaging device, wherein Figure 1is a perspective view of a package of sausages employing my packagingdevice,

Figure 2 is a perspective View of my packaging device,

Figure 3 is an end view of my packaging device. and

Figure 4 is a plan view of a paperboard blank from which my packagingdevice is formed.

My packaging device, when set up, provides two sleeves A and B. Thebottom sleeve A is defined by a main panel I, side panels 2 and 3perpendicular thereto, and secondary or deck panels 4 and 5 parallel topanel I. The second sleeve B is defined by the deck panels 4 and 5, sidetabs 6 and I perpendicular thereto, and a pair of strap members 8 and 9parallel to panels I, 4 and 5 and having interlocking means I!) and II.To support the deck panels in a spaced relation with respect to eachother and above the main panel 2 there may be provided a supportingpanel I which may depend from the deck panels and rest as a leg on andperpendicular to the main panel I at I3.

In Figure 1 a plurality of sausages are shown retained in each sleeve.This unit can readily be overwrapped in cellophane either by hand or inan automatic wrapping machine. By providing a double sleeve device, andparticularly a device which retains the articles in layers, I provide amore compact package for relatively larger quantities of goods ornumbers of articles. Furthermore, by separating the layers and nsupporting the deck panel independently of the product I protect thearticles from being mashed together in handling.

As is seen in Figure 4, all of the various panels and the straps areformed by suitable cuts and scores from a single piece of paperboard.Side panels 2 and 3 are connected to opposite sides of the main panel Ialong score lines 28 and 2I. Side tabs 6 and 7 are in turn connected topanels 2 and 3 along respective score lines 22 and 23. Deck panels 4 and5 are connected to panel 2 along score line 22 also. Straps 8 and 9' areconnected to side tabs 6 and 1 along respective score lines 24 and 25.Strap 8 and side tab 6 are cut out of a single panel by cut lines 26, 21and 28 leaving the deck panels 4 and 5. Panel I2 is connected to thedeck panels along score lines 29 and 30. The score lines provide hingeconnections between the parts so delineated. The interlocking means illand II may be of any conventional type used in carton construction. Inthe embodiment shown I employ slits 3| and 32 with V-shaped entrances33' and 34. This paperboard blank may be suitably printed with salespromotion or advertising material and is shipped in the fiat, that is,in collapsed condition.

In using the packaging device the articles to be packaged are placed onthe main panel I. If sausages as shown, these may be placed side by sidesufiicient in number to overlie the entire main panel and preferably toextend slightly beyond the confines of the main panel I. Next the sidepanels 2 and 3 are folded up around the product along their respectivescore lines, which serve as hinges, and the deck panels 4 and 5 arefolded parallel to panel I to overlie the sausages. The supporting panelI2 is folded down around the product and inserted inside and inface-toface relation with side panel 3 as clearly shown in Figure 3.Another layer of product is then placed on the deck panels in the samemanner as on the main panel, deck panels 4 and 5 forming the floor ofthe second or upper sleeve B. When this layer has been placed inposition the ends of each of the straps 8 and 9 are pulled towards eachother around the product and the locking means l0 and II are engaged. Byhaving the product cover a slightly larger area than the main panel andthe deck panel the product is slightly compressed (when the straps arefastened) making a very compact package from which the product will not'fall out.

It will be readily apparent that strap 8 and tab 6 are formed from thevery paperboard packaging material resulting from the spacing apart ofthe two deck panels 4 and 5, thus permitting a considerable andimportant economy-of manufacture. The combined lengths ofstraps 8 and 9from their hinge connection 24 and 25 to their locking slits 3| and .32,respectively, is of course substantially equal to the correspondingdimensions of panels I, 4 and 5.

As pointed out above the package may be completedby suitablyover-wrapping preferably with a transparent wrapper if the product sorequires.

Although I have shown a preferred embodiment of my packaging device, itis appreciated that other modifications will occur to those skilled inthe-art within the scope of the following claims which are intended todefine my invention.

.1 claim:

1 A paperboard blank for forming a collapsible packaging device theblank being suitably cut and scored to provide a main panel, a pair ofopposed side panels each along one side edge hingedly connected to aside edge of the main panel, a pair of Opposed side tabs each connectedto a Side panel at an intermediate portion of the side edge thereofopposite to said one side edge, a Pair of opposed, interengageablestraps each hingedly connected to a side tab and having interengagingmeans adjacent their remote ends and being of combined length from theirhinge connections with the side tabs to theirinterengaging meanssubstantially equal to the corresponding dimension of the main panel, apair of spaced deck panels hingedly connected to said opposite side edgeof one of said side panels and lying one to each side of the side tabconnected to said one side panel, said deck panels being spaced apart bythe side tab connected to said'one side panel and the strap connectedthereto, the length of said deck panels being substantially equal to thecorresponding dimension of the main panel, the blank being foldable withthe side panels and side tabs perpendicular to the main panel, the

deck panels andstraps parallel to the main panel with the strapssupported above the deck panels vby the side tabs, and with the strapsinterenferenccs Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 189,454 Goldback Apr. 10, 1877 2,211,340 Mehrkens Aug.13, 1940 2,359,298 Brogden Oct. 3, 1944 2,554,190 Hennessey May 22, 19512,558,713 Williamson June 26, 1951 2,646,357 Seiferth July 21, 1953

